Edwin Rutsch 01

Empathy Team Assignment was to do an Empathy Circle.

2015-09-12

A working Empathy Circle, while cooking a meal together.

I did empathic listening with my partner Joan. She wanted me to help more with the cooking over the next 2 weeks. So we did a working empathic listening process. We dialoged for about 45 minutes doing empathic listening around the issue of sharing the cooking while we worked on preparing a meal together. Joan wants me to help more with the cooking.

Regarding the experience of doing a loose empathy circle, Joan says;

  • It worked well. process was good.

  • a got started on the conversation about Edwin doing more of the cooking

  • "we came up with some plans... It's always good when things move ahead"

    • she was somewhat detached because her knee had a slight soreness. She says, the pain distracted from giving full attention to the discussion. She mentioned how while we do empathic listening we have other things going on in our heads.

We created a prototype of the cooking, it was

  • Tofu Dogs

  • Cole slaw

  • potatoes

  • juice

Would you do it again I asked?

  • yes, we will continue the dialog about Edwin doing more of the cooking.

  • we can talk about other issues as well.

I found the process good since often I feel Joan doesn't listen. She responds to comments and doesn't really listen first to what I say but responds. This process makes me feel heard and the dialog goes better. Edwin

our jointly cooked meal.

Empathy Circle Research Report Parameters

How might we design a form to support creating a report?

(x ) Length of time: 45

( ) # of Participants: 2

( ) Outline of empathy circle:

  • ( ) Intention setting

  • ( ) Candle

  • (x ) Empathic listening

  • ( ) Mirrored

  • ( ) Blow out intention and candle

  • ( ) Others?

( ) Participant Feedback:

( ) Facilitators Insights:

( ) Photo's taken: ( ) yes ( x) no